Sectional support for pendent light-fixtures.



A. H. MANWARING.

SECTIONAL SUPPORT FOR PENDENT LIGHT FIXTURES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1. 1913.

Patented June 8, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

A. H. MANWARING.

SECTIONAL SUPPORT FOR PENDENT LIGHT FIXTURES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1, 1913.

1,142,597. Patented June 8, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ALBERT H. MANWARING, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLV ANIA.

SECTIONAL SUPPORT FOR PENDENT LIGHT-FIXTURES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1915.

"Application filed November 1, 1918. Serial No. 798,702.

structed for the purpose of carrying and.

concealing the current conducting wires. In the present instance, such sectional structure simulates a chain, which may be more or less flexible, or substantially rigid.

A further feature of my lnvention is to.

provide a substantially flexible, sectional supporting rim for the shade or globe employed with the lighting fixture; which rim is hung from the sectional wire-carrying members.

These and other features of my invention are more fully described hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fi re 1, is a view in elevation of a lighting xture, showing one form of sectional supporting means and sectional shade holder within the scope of my invention; Fig. 2, is anenlarged view, partly in section, of a carrying element and the upper part of the sectional support; Fig. 3, is an enlarged view of the portion of the sectional support and the sectional shade holder carried thereby; Fig. 4, is a plan view of a portion of the sectional shade holder; Fig. 5, is an edge view of one of the sections or links shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 6, is a sectional view on the line 66, Fig. 5; Fig. 7, is a sectional view on the line 77, Fig. 3; Fig. 8, is a sectional view on the line 88, Fig. 3; Figs. 9, 10 and 11, are views of a clamping link employed for connecting together the sections or links of the structure shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3; Figs. 12 and 13, are views of other forms of link sections within the scope of my invention, and Figs. 14 and 15, are views of a modified form of sectional shade support within the scope of my invention.

The important feature of my invention is the idea of having a sectional wire-carry" ing chain or support, or a chain or support of separable links or sections which can be sections having grooved edges for the purpose, and such support may be more or less flexible, or substantially rigid.

In the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2,

the support is made up of a plurality of links 1, which may be oval, oblong or otherwise shaped, and with hollow or solid centers; such links or sections having grooved edges 2 for the reception of conducting wires 3. These grooves are preferably made so deep that they fully conceal the wires except when viewed at the edges of the links, and they may be undercut so as to firmly retain the wires in place. Such links may be connected together by suitable means such as the sheet metal clamping links 5, clearly illustrated in Figs. 9, 10 and 11, or they may be hinged, or interlocked, or' connected in any convenient manner. The clamping links are substantially +-shaped, with arms 6 to embrace the upper and lower cross-bars of adjacent links 1, and lighter arms 7 to embrace the conducting wiresf3 and closely confine them to the links. :The sectional supporting means comprising the links 1,

or their equivalents, may be suspended from a suitable carrying member 10, which may be fastened adjacent the ceiling in any Well known manner, for which purpose a hook 11 may be attached thereto. Carried by this member are yoke-shaped pieces 12, the separate ends 13 of which are threaded and pass through openings 14 in said member 10 and are secured thereto by nuts 15; the lower ends of the yoke-shaped members being of substantially the same shape as the links or sections 1 and being attached to the uppermost links by the clamping links 5. The ends 13 of the yoke-shaped pieces are grooved for the reception of the wires.

The lower ends of the chains or sectional supports made up of the elements 1 are connected to a sectional shade holder, shown in Figs. 3 and 4, made up of. special links 16, and spacing links 17 connecting said special links; all of which links are segmental in shape and are suitably connected with respect to each other and are formed or constructed initially on such a curve or radius as to permit of a holder being built up of a greater or less number of pieces, as may be desired, to fit the rims 19 of globes 20, which may be of various sizes. The special links 16 carry hollow threaded members 21 to which electric lamp socket holders may be attached in the usual-manner, and the wires 3 which are brought down the grooved sides of the supporting links or sections are passed through said threaded members 21. The sections of the shade supporting rim are provided at their opposite ends with interconnecting parts 22 and 23, whereby they may be hinged or pivotally connected together by screws .or pins 24. As the shadesupporting structure is flexible and made up of independent, interchangeable units, it will be readily understood that the" size of the shade support may be varied by adding to or removing links or sections of the same. \Vhen large shades are to be supported, a plurality of suspension chains are generally employed, four or three; or even two, with small shades, and in some instances a single sectional supporting element may be employed; the sectional shade-holder in such case carrying a frame or spider to which said sectional supporting element may be attached.

' Figs. 14 and 15, show a slightly modified form of sectional shade holder, made up of links or sections 16; such links'or sections having straps 25 at one end adapted to enter slots 26 at the other end of an adjacent link and be folded back to effect a lock. These shade supporting sections are formed originally on such a 0 ve or radius as to permit of a holder being uilt up of a greater or less number of pieces, as in the form of holder shown in Figs. 3, 4, et seq. Certain of the links carry plates 27 to whichthe sectional supports are attached; being secured thereto by screws 28, and these plates carry hollow threaded members 21 to which electric lamp socket holders may be attached; the wires 7 which are brought down through the hollow sectional supports being passed through said members 21.

The important feature of my invention is the adjustability and flexibility of the sectional support as well as the adjustability of the sectional shade holder. They support proper, consisting of separable links or sections which may be readily connected and disconnected, permits of ready lengthening or shortening of the same to suit conditions which can not be foreseen when the placement of the structure is first proposed. At the same time, the wires are concealed so that all that is in view. is the representation of a chain.

Any form of shade holder may be embracing the -links and arms embracing the.

conductin g wires.

2. The combination, in supporting means for lighting fixtures, of a plurality of independent links grooved to receive conducting wires, and independent connectors for sai links having arms for engagement with the links and arms to retain the wires to the links.

3. The combination, in'supporting means for lighting fixtures, of a plurality of independent links externally grooved to receive conducting wires, and connections for said links comprising independent members having a plurality of arms disposed at right angles to each other, one set of arms engag-' ing adjacent links and the other set of arms embracing the connecting wires and holding them within the margin or boundary of the links.

4. The combination, in supporting means for lighting fixtures, of a plurality of sup-. ports comprising separable links having means for the concealment of conducting wires, connecting means for said links or sections, and a sectional shade support made up of a plurality of interconnectlng interchangeable flanged sections connected together.

5. The combination, in supporting means for lighting fixtures, of a plurality of'supports comprisin separable links, meanscarried by said lin s or sections for concealing conducting wires, detachable connecting means for said links to form chains, a sectional shade support made up of a plurality of interconnecting interchangeable links hingedly connected together, and electric lamp supporting means carried by said shade holder. v

6. The combination, in supporting means for lighting fixtures, of a chain made up of a plurality of solid links grooved to receive and conceal conducting wires, and sheet metal clamping members for said links, said clamping members having arms in engagement with the ends of the links and smaller arms for confining the conducting wires to the grooves of the links.

7. In a lamp supporting device, the combination of a shade holder made up of a plurality of interchangeable flanged links, means for connecting said links together, supporting chains for said shade holder, and

special links carried by said shade holder to which said chains are connected.

8. In a lamp supporting device, the combination of a shade holder made up of a plurality of interchangeable flanged links, means for hingedly connecting said links together, a plurality of supporting chains for said shade holder, and special connections for said chains carried by certain of said links.

9. In a lamp supporting device, the combination of a shade holder made up of a plurality of interchangeable flanged links, means for hingedly connecting said links together, and supporting elements for said shade holder comprising links detachably connected together to form an adjustable chain.

10. The combination, in supporting means for lighting fixtures, of a plurality of independent links or unit sections externally grooved to carry conducting wires, and connections for the ends of said links comprising clamping members having arms embracing the links and arms embracing the conducting wires.

11. The combination, in supporting means for lighting fixtures, of a plurality of supports comprising separable links having means for the concealment of conducting wires, means for flexibly connecting said links or sections, and a sectional shade support made up of a plurality of interconnecting interchangeable flanged sections flexibly connected together.

12. The combination, in supporting means for lighting fixtures, of a plurality of supports comprising detachable links carrying and concealing conducting wires, a sectional shade support made up of a plurality of interconnecting interchangeable links detachably connected together, and electric lamp supporting means carried by links of said shade holder.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT H. MANWARING.

Witnesses MURRAY C. BoYER, WM. A. BARR. 

